Lotion Bars

My husband Blair suffers from dry hands and feet, especially in the winter. So he came up with these wonderful lotion bars.

One of the things he doesn't like about most lotion bars is the added fragrance. So he made them without. The first kind is the Coco-Lotion. Since it is made with Cocoa Butter is smells divinely like chocolate. The second is made with Shea butter, so it really brings out the bees wax and smells just like honey comb. 

I told him he needed to make a few extra to sell through my shop. So I have them both available here: http://www.lavendersheep.com/shop/lotionbars.html. He uses one bar for his hands and one for his feet. They are the best bar he has ever found!

New Colorways Pages

I actually updated the Colorways Pages before I did the Custom Order Form, but blogging about the Custom Order Form reminded me I needed to show you guys the new Colorways pages. I'm really happy with how they turned out. 

From the walk through of the Order Form last time you'll notice that this is slightly familiar. I organized all of the colors into New, Semi Solid, Top 15 Colorways, and Other. So you can easily find the colorway you are looking for. 

When you click on any of the colors you now see photos of both the close up and the skein shot, so you really get an idea of what the colorway looks like. I have tried to pick out a good representation of each colorway. Then on the right you will see the unique description for the color. Followed by which yarn base is shown in the photo and a link so you can see if it is currently in stock or what other colors are available in that base. Then I included a link to the Custom Order Form so you can go straight from that page to ordering that colorway on the base of your choice. 

Slowly, but surely, I am working to get the website to be one integrated site, so things flow easily and all your options are at your fingertips. Of course it is only me doing all the dyeing, winding, packaging, and web development, so everything takes time. If you have an idea for a feature you would like to see added to the website, feel free to let me know. I'm always looking for ways to improve, especially for you the customer!

Photo Friday: Playground

New! Custom Order Form

I'm so excited to announce I have a new custom order form! Not many people know this, but I do all of the code work for lavendersheep.com. Updating the custom order form has been on my to do list for some time and now it is finally done! So here is a little walk through:

The landing page looks like this (above and below). You have your choice of yarn or fiber bases to choose from. Everything I have you can now custom order! At the top is all of the yarn, sorted by weight, 

Scroll down and you see all of the spinning fibers. 

Click on one of the options and you will see a bigger picture of the yarn or fiber. All of them have a close up shot, but I'm still working on getting all of the skein shots. 

Next there is a description of the yarn or fiber describing its unique properties, including a link to see what is currently available, before you order. 

I have added the option to buy undyed / natural, because I know there are plenty of people out there who are looking for white yarn and I occasionally get requests for this. 

Then there is the option to write in your own custom color. I get a lot of requests for special or custom colorways. So now you can write a short description of what you would like and add it to your cart.

Next I have sorted out all of the colorways to make it easier to find what you want. The top choice are all of the new ones available. Followed by the semi-solids (the most popular choice).

Then the top 15 multi-colorways sold in 2012. My plan is to update this yearly, so it is always easy to find the colorway you are most likely looking for or get inspired by what other people like. 

Then More Colorways covers all of the rest of the colorways I have created and sold since I started LavenderSheep, but aren't as popular any more. 

The most awesome part is you can add any or all of these options to your cart and whatever you like from the rest of the store as usual, then checkout. I get the order and start filling it right away without having to email back and forth for payment. Of course, I still love to hear from you so if you prefer to contact me directly please feel free to do so, even if it is just to say hi!

I hope you are as excited as I am about the new order form!

Lollipop Skirt

I knit another quick knit for the girl child. 

This is the Lollipop Skirt (rav link) by Bekah Knits. This is the largest size of the baby pattern, but thankfully she also has a Toddler / Kid version too. I may just have to get it because this skirt turned out way too cute!

It is knit out of Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo, my mom brought it back from Hawaii so I could knit something for my girl. I still have lots left so maybe I'll make her another skirt out of it next year!

I am knitting things for my boy too. I finished the sweater for his bunny, but he loves it so much I haven't had time to get it from him to put a face on it or photograph it. Soon! I hope!

Photo Friday: Grass

Purple Majesty

One of the big projects I was working on this spring, that I couldn't talk about, was dyeing yarn for For Yarn's Sake's Sock Club. 

40 skeins of very intense purple goodness! The yarn they chose was my Cashmere Blend (MCN) Sock and sent me a photo of a purple landscape. I had a tough time because it is close to a couple of my current colorways, but I think I managed to infuse the purple awesome they were looking for. 

Anne posted the final sock pattern designed by their very own Anne Laird. I think it is absolutely stunning! If you want to see it, check it out here: https://twitter.com/foryarnssake/status/356828177110282240/photo/1

Also, if you want your own kit, sometimes they carry a couple extra in the store. Their website is: http://www.foryarnssake.com/store/. The colorway is exclusive to the club for at least a year, so I won't have it available until at least that time!

On the Needles

I have been knitting, but for some things I don't have the right photos yet for others I'm waiting for the right moment to reveal them. I have some really pretty things in the works for this fall. In the mean time I'll share some things I can share which are in progress:

I like to keep a pair of socks (rav link) on #3US and DK weight yarn for my husband on the needles at all times. That way I know I have something simple to knit where I don't need a pattern. I take them along to knit group sometimes when I don't have anything easy to take. If I take something complicated then I usually have to rip it back out or fix mistakes. No good. These are knit out of Madelintosh Tosh DK. Mmmm....so pretty. 

The other ongoing project is the Duck Scarf (rav link). I went to University of Oregon, so I have to make a scarf out of my Silky Sock in colors Lemon Lime. I really love how it is turning out.














Here is a close up where you can see the "duck feet." The pattern is technically Gardiner Yarn Works Snowdrop Scarf, but I have always thought the little snowdrop motif looked like duck feet. I know there are other Duck fans out there, so I had to share it. I knit it mostly at shows, but I'm hoping to get it finished up before Oregon Flock and Fiber for the booth.








One last thing: Don't forget to check out the Fabulous Summer Fiber Sale going on in the shop! 25% off of lots of beautiful spinning fibers!

Photo Friday: Oregon Summer

Fabulous Summer Fiber Sale!

Just in time for Summer time spinning and Tour de Fleece I am holding a Fabulous Summer Fiber Sale!

25% off the following:

Merino Wool

BFL Wool

Mixed BFL Wool

Superwash Merino Wool

Superwash BFL Wool

Silk Hankies

Make sure to stock up before it's gone!

Craftsy

Over the past couple of months I have been hearing a lot of good things about Craftsy. I have heard some great interviews over on Craftlit with various designers making online classes through Craftsy. So I was thrilled when they contacted me and asked me to promote their Free Patterns section! You do need to sign up to get access, but signing up is free and they do have quite a few patterns in their library, not only knitting, but also on Crocheting, Quilting, Sewing, Embroidery, and more. A couple knitting patterns I think are really cute are:

The Flora Bunting Garland by CraftConfection. I think Bunting is so cool. One of these days I'm going to get around to actually making some! When I do I'll already have a pattern ready and waiting!

My next one is definitely a market bag. This one is To Market by Fiber Dreams. Every time I go to the local Farmers Market I wish I had a bag or remembered to pack a bag, probably both! I should just make a bag or two and leave them in the car for when I go! I love the Farmers Market! It's so much fun and I get tasty food to feed my family. A win-win!

Lastly, I couldn't leave without picking out at least one thing for the kiddos. This is the aptly named Cute Giraffe Hat by jkwdesigns. It is sized for Infant/Baby, boys, and girls. So now I need to decide who to knit it for. Lots of other people are having babies too, so I'll have to think about it. Maybe a project for fall, once I get everything else off the needles!

Here is the link to check it out: http://www.craftsy.com/ext/LavenderSheep_FreeKnittingPatterns

Photo Friday: Couch